The New Mexico Department of Health operates several administrative offices around the state that oversee regional and statewide office operations. Hours of operation and contact information are provided below.

Stay Healthy and Safe While Enjoying the Outdoors

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) offers tips for residents to stay safe and healthy this Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer, while enjoying all the outdoor activities New Mexico has to offer.

With warmer temperatures, there are increased concerns with heat exposure, hydration, safe food handling when in the outdoors, and the return of mosquito season. There are a variety of ways to reduce your health risks:

Avoid Heat Induced Illness

There were 137 emergency department visits in New Mexico for heat stress June 2016, the most for any month in the year. Heat stress is a heat-related illness that with inadequate fluid replacement and continued exposure to high temperatures, can progress to more serious conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To protect yourself from the heat, take the following steps:

Stay cool indoors; do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.

Drink more water than usual but avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.

Avoid Mosquito Bites

So far this year, there has been just one reported case of West Nile Virus and no reported cases of Zika Virus in New Mexico. However, we are entering the 2017 mosquito season. With increased time spent outdoors, it is important to act to reduce your risk of mosquito bites.

Create a barrier by wearing insect repellent, long sleeves, long pants, and a hat.

Reduce the amount of time spent outdoors when mosquitoes are most active (at dusk and dawn).Use screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.

Empty or eliminate water holding containers (where mosquitoes lay their eggs) such as tires, flower pots, toys, and buckets.